Guard for the release catch of a typewriter shelf



Jan. 1, 1957 D. KINNEY 2,776,178

GUARD FOR THE RELEASE CATCH OF A TYPEWRITER SHELF find Feb. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FRANCIS D. KINNEY BY 4 05s JARDINS, ROBINSON & KEISER HIS ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1957 D. KlNNEY 2,776,178

GUARD FOR THE RELEASE CATCH OF A TYPEWRITER SHELF Filed Feb. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANCIS D. Kl NNEY BY DES JARDINS, QSBINSON & KEISER HIS AT'TORN EYS United States Patent 2,776,178 GUARD FOR THE RELEASE (IATCH OF A TYPEWRITER SHELF Francis 1). Kinney, Milford, @hio Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,664 18 Claims. (Cl. 312-221) This invention relates to a guard for the release catch of a typewriter shelf in a side pedestal typewriter desk in which said shelf is tilted or folded away to a lower or inoperative position from a higher or operative one, and it particularly pertains to a release catch guard so positioned with respect to one end of the typewriter carriage that the release catch, holding the shelf in elevated open position, cannot be released unless the typewriter carriage i retracted to a position in which its end does not extend over the desk top to avoid any damage thereof when the shelf is tilted away or closed.

It is impractical, in a small size pedestal typewriter desk, to use a pedestal where the typewriter holding shelf remains in a horizontal position whether said shelf be at operating height or enclosed in the pedestal, since this reduces the knee hole space for the operator to a width less than that required for the pedestal. Accordingly, to provide the necessary knee space, a tilt or fold away shelf is conventionally used. In a closed inoperative position in such desks, the typewriter shelf is tilted down and back about 90 from horizontal with the typewriter suspended from bolts fastening it to the shelf. There is a conventional release lock for holding the shelf in its horizontal or operating position, and this lock is manually released to close the shelf by reaching in under the front edge of the shelf nearest the operator. The typewriter is so positioned that only one end of its carriage has movement extend-ing over the top of the desk, and, hence, if not moved to clear the desk top when the shelf moves to closed position, the extended end of the carriage prevents the shelf from being closed. More serious, however, this hazard may not only result in the carriage being banged against thetop of the desk but, all too frequently, in severe damage thereto. The present invention removes this hazard entirely by guarding the shelf look from being released unless and until the carriage is in clearance with the desk top. Only then can the guard for the release be retracted.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the invention is a guard for the shelf release lock and which ren- V ders said lock accessible only when the typewriter carriage is in clearing position in respect to the desk.

Another object of the invention is a guard for a shelf release lock which is adapted for either socalled right or left side typewriter desks.

Another object of the invention is a shelf release lock guard which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

Still another object of the invention is a shelf release lock guard which is readily applied and adapted for conventional typewriter desks with tilt or fold away shelves.

A still further object of the invention is a shelf release lock guard which is adjustable for different size desk shelves.

A still further object of the invention is a shelf release lock guard which is fool proof and positive in guarding the shelf release lock.

Patented Jan. 1, 1857 Further objects relating to details of construction and economies of operation, will readily appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention by the device and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. Structures cons-tituting preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a typewriter desk having a tilt or fold away shelf provided with a release lock guard therefor embodying my invention, the guard being in position allowing access to the shelf release lock.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view on line 22 of Fig. l with the guard in retracted position to unblocking position.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view, similar to Fig. 2, with the guard in blocking position.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top view, with the operating handle broken away, of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view, similar to Fig. 2, of the embodiment of Fig. 5.

Generally described, the invention comprises a guard which is readily attached to the top of the typewriter shelf in position to guard the shelf release lock thercbeneath and to cooperate with one end of the typewriter carriage. The typewriter is so positioned on the shelf that only one end of the carriage, preferably the front end, will extend over the table when extended to extreme position. The guard is adapted to be moved in one position to give access to the release lock and in another position for blocking access thereto. Means is provided to move the guard, including a handle which is always accessible but cannot be sufii-ciently moved to permit operation of the shelf release lock until after the carriage has been moved in position to clear the table top. When the guard is in unblocking position, the operating handle is in 'a position to be in abutting relation with the end of the typewriter carriage, thereby serving as an end stop so long as the shelf release lock is unguarded or onblocked.

Referring specifically to the drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like parts, numeral 1 is a conventional typewriter desk with a tilt or fold away shelf 2 mounted on the pedestal mechanism. A typewriter 4, with a carriage 5, is bolted to the table.

A right side typewriter desk is illustrated in the drawings wtih a guard, generally designated by numeral 6, disposed to cooperate with the left hand end of the carriage '5. In a left side typewriter desk, the guard would be placed on the opposite or right side of the typewriter in the same relative position to cooperate with the opposite end of the carriage, it being understood, of course, that the release lock for the shelf is also positioned on the right side of the typewriter in a left side desk. This is accomplished by the removal of one bolt and reversing the release lock guard arm in the bracket.

The shelf release lock is a conventional one, normally biased to have the detent 7, projecting through the shelf flange 8, engage a fixed part of the desk. To release the lock, the opposite end 7a is manually depressed. The release lock is in the form of a lever and biased in locking position by a spring.

The guard 6 (Figs. 1 to 4) comprises a main body member slidably fixed to the top of the shelf by means of bolt 9 projecting through elongated slot 16 in the body member. One end of this body member 6 is bent into a flange l1 terminating in the retroverted part 12 to form a U-shaped channeled end fitting over the edge of the shelf 2 and adapted to be moved in and out of ,blockingposition under the release lock. The opposite end of the guard member 6 is linked at 13 to a lever 14, preferably in the form of a channel by pivots 15 and 15'. Bars 16 are provided on the body member for receiving pivot pin 15a. The lever 14 is pivoted at 17 between ears 18 of a bracket 19 secured to the top of the shelf by fastening means 20. An extension handle 21 is slidably fitted to the top of the lever by bolt 22 projecting through a vertical slot 23 in one of the side walls of the lever. A vertical slot 23 is also provided in the other side wall of the lever so that the extension handle can be bolted to either side wall. A wing nut 24 and lock washer 25 are fitted to the bolt 22. The open side of the channeled lever may be, if desired, braced by a cross tie Welded thereto. A rubber sleeve 27 is fitted to the end of the extension handle 21.

The lock release for the shelf is ordinarily placed between two spaced-apart channel bars 28 and 28 fitted beneath said shelf in parallel relation with the open sides of the channels facing each other. The opening 29 between the bottom flanges 30 of channel bars give access to the release lock. Accordingly, the retroverted end 12 of the guard member is moved to open and close said opening between the channel bars.

In the embodiment of Figs. and 6, the guard member 6 is made of two sections 31 and 31 extensibly connected by the slide joint connection comprising the elongated slot 32 in one section and the bolt 33 and clamp nut 34 carried by the other section. Ears 35 are formed on the slotted section 31' overhanging the side edges of the other section 31 to provide a slide socket. The sectional guide member 6 is fixed to a plate 36 having a flanged end 37, abutting one edge of the desk shelf, and clamped to the shelf top by another plate 38 abutting the opposite edge of the shelf. Friction strips 39 and 40, such as rubber, are inserted between the shelf abutting portions of the clamp. Bolts 41 project through an upstanding flange 42 on the opposite edge of plate 36 and the plate 38, clamp nuts 43 being provided thereon. An angle strip 44 may also be fitted to the plate 38 by means of flange 45 abutting therewith and preferably welded thereto, the main portion extending beneath the plate 36 and spacing it from the desk top. This angle strip 44 is optional. In the embodiment the guard device is attached to the top of clamp plate 36 by having the bracket 19 welded or clamped thereto.

The guard member may be made in sections extensibly fitted together by connecting means, thereby permitting it to be adjusted to variable lengths for being fitted to different size desk shelves.

The guard is slidably connected to the plate 36 in the same manner as in the construction of Figs. 1 to 4 for slidably connecting it to the top of the desk. This has been generally referred to by screw 9 projecting through the elongated slot in the guard member 6. More specifically described, the screw in the form of a bolt, is attached to the plate 36 or to the top of the shelf with its threaded end projecting upwardly. A sleeve 45 is slipped on the bolt to be clamped between the nut 46 and the top of the shelf or the clamp plate, and a spacing washer 47 is fitted over the sleeve to be interposed between the shelf and the guard member (Figs. 1 to 4) or between the guard member and the clamp plate (Figs. 5 and 6).

It will be understood that the retroverted part 12 of the channel end of the guard member will be of a length so that it will close off the released lock when the guard is in blocking position as shown in Fig. 1 and will open it as shown in Fig. 2, for the guard to be in non-blocking position.

From the foregoing description of the guard and its position in respect to the end of the typewriter carriage, it will be appreciated that the operating lever for moving the guard cannot be lifted from its guarding position in Fig. 1 to the unguarded position in Fig. 2 unless the carriage is moved out of clearance therewith. Accordingly, the typewriter shelf cannot then be released, and

hence the shelf cannot be released until the carriage is out of clearance with the top of the desk. After the operating lever has been raised, the extension handle is then in a position to abut against the end of the carriage and thereby prevent it from further movement in a direction towards the handle so long as the guard is in retracted position. The carriage is blocked when the guard unblocks the release lock, and is free to move only after the release lock is blocked.

I am aware that there may be various changes in details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent, is:

l. A guard for a release lock on a tilt or fold away typewriter desk shelf comprising a member adapted to be slidably fitted to one side of the shelf, an end on said member adapted to fit over the edge of the shelf adjacent the release lock, and operating means for moving the guard to block and unblock the release lock, said operating means being adapted to serve as a limit stop at one end of the path of movement of the typewriter carriage when the release lock is unblocked by the guard.

2. The guard of claim 1 in which the operating means is adapted to be fixed to the shelf and includes a lever.

3. The guard of claim 2 in which the lever is provided with an adjustable extension handle.

4. The guard of claim 3 in which the member is composed of extensible sections adjustably fitted together.

5. A guard for a release lock on a tilt or fold away typewriter shelf comprising a member linked at one end to a lever, a support for the lever adapted to be fixed to one side of the shelf, and means carried by the opposite end of the member adapted to extend over the edge of the shelf for being moved in and out of position in respect to the release lock disposed on the opposite side of the desk for controlling access thereto.

6. The guard of claim 5 in which the means carried by the opposite end of the member is a channeled end adapted to fit over the edge of the shelf and extend under the release lock.

7. A guard for a release lock on a tilt or fold away typewriter desk shelf comprising a base support adapted to be fitted to one side of the shelf, a member fitted to the base support adapted to be moved for blocking and unblocking the shelf release lock disposed on the opposite side of the shelf, and means for operating said member.

8. The guard of claim 7 in which the operating means is pivotally mounted on the support.

9. The guard of claim 8 in which the operating means is adapted to be disposed for being pivoted in a plane at a right angle to the path of a typewriter carriage of a typewriter adapted to be mounted on the shelf and cannot be operated until the carriage is moved past the plane in which the operating means moves.

10. The guard of claim 7 in which the base support is formed of extensible sections adjustably connected together.

11. In combination with a typewriter desk provided with a tilt or fold away shelf and a release lock therefor, a guard for said release lock comprising a member slidably fitted to the top of the shelf and having a channel end fitting over the edge of the shelf adjacent the release, a support fixed to the shelf, an operating means pivoted to the support and guard member for moving the channel end of said guard member in and out of blocking relation with the release lock, said operating means being so disposed for holding the guard in non-block ing formation with the release lock when the carriage of a typewriter, adapted to be mounted on the shelf, is out of clearance with the operating means and holding is in blocking position when not out of clearance therewith.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which the operating means is pivoted upwardly at an angle transverse to the movement of the carriage.

13. The combination of claim 12 in which the lever is provided with an adjustable handle.

14. The combination of claim 13 in which the guard member is composed of extensible sections adjustably fitted together.

15. In combination with a typewriter desk provided with a tilt or fold away shelf, a typewriter mounted on said shelf and a release lock for said shelf, a guard for said release lock comprising a member movably fitted to the top of the shelf, a support fixed to the shelf, and operating means pivoted to said support and guard means for moving the guard member in and out of blocking relation with the release lock, said operating means be ing so disposed for holding the guard in non-blocking formation with the release lock when the typewriter carriage is out of clearance with the operating means and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,969 Tewksbury Jan. 29, 1889 479,412 Foster July 26, 1892 497,445 Purland May 16, 1893 1,249,472 Painter Dec. 11, 1917 2,464,096 Orscheln Mar. 8, 1949 

